Improvement in straw-cutters



A dalla sans @stent dimite.

.Letters Patent No. 96,296, lated October 26, 1 869.

IMPROVEMENT lINy STRAW-CUTTERS.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the name.

To all whom itmag'/ concern.

Beit known that I, THOMAS N1 YoUNG, of Richmond, in the county of Wayne, and State of IIndiana, have invented certain Improvements in Straw-Cutters; and 1 do hereby declare that the following is a full description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, makinga part o f this specification.

The first part of my invention relates to au improved mode of attaching and operating the knife, so as to prodiice an easy drawing cut, and give greater ellicieucy to the stroke. v

The second part' of my invention relates to the coustruction and arrangement of the feeding-mechanism,

and devices foradjustng the same to feed more or 1 less, as required.

The third part of my invention relates to an adj ust able guide and compressing-board, that .may be used either in conjunction or separately, as desired.

The object ofthe guide-board is to direct the straw between the feeding-rollers; and the invention consists ip making it automatically adjustable.

lhe compressi11g-board retains the straw in a coinpact volume, after it leaves the feeding-rollers, until it is cut, and is adjusted automatically in the same t manner as the guide-board.

Description of thc Accompanying Drawings. f

Figure l, plate 1, is a perspective view of one form of my machine.

Figure 2, plate 1, is a sectional view, showing the guide-board and devices for compressing the straw betweenthe feeding-rollers and the knife.

Figures 3 and 4, plate 2, are respectively front and side elevations of a machine differing from that shown in fic. 1, in that the shaft and balance-wheel are' adjusted higher u p, so as to be operated by a hand-crank instead ot'a treadle, as in the first instance.

VThe cutter-box A is supported upon any suitable frame, and is provided with two feeding-rollers, c d.

The journals of the lower roller c are adjusted in stationary boxes, while those'of the upper roller l are placed in vertical slots in the sides of the cutter-box A.

E represents a broad belt or piece of canvas, that passes over the lower feeding-roller c, and a tensionroller, f, its upper surface forming a portion of the bottom ofthe cutter-box.

The knife G is pivoted, at one end, to the swinging arm P, and at the other, to the head-block F, that slides in the inclined groove I.

The head-block consists of a blockof metal, by preference, centrally perforated, for the reception of a stud or wrist, by which 'it is attached to the knife, and having narrow strips or tongues formed on its edges, which hold and guide it in the inclined groove, the ways forming the latter being provided with anges extending over such strips.

Motion is imparted to the head-block F, and thence to the knife, by means of a pitman, J, attached to a crank upon the shaft U.

Should it be desirable, the shaft U, with the balance-wheel lV and pitman J may be dispensed with, and the machine operated by means of a simplelever, that is bolted to the head-block F, (as indicated by dotted lines in fig. 1,) the lower end of said lever being held in position by a fulcrum-pin, nl., that works in a Slot, to allow of lateral play.

The feeding-rollers are actuated by the head-block' F, that raises one end of the pivoted bar D, thereby withdrawing the pawls uu., and turning the ratchets c 'v upon the said rollers.

The extremity ofthe bar D is upheld bya hook, L, that passes through a fixed support on the frame, and is provided with thumb-nut, whereby it may be adjusted to hold the bar at any height required. this arrangement, the pawls n n may be made to retrace one, two, or more teeth upon the ratchets, thus varying the length of the feed as required.

The springs a a, ligs. l and 2, are attached by bolts to the board H, that extends across the top of the cutter-box A.

Attached to the board H are two posts, ll, that stand upon the ]'ournalsofthe feeding-rollerd, in slots in the sides of the cutter-box, and are elevated and depressed with said journals. Y

Near the front edge of the board H is attached a compressing-board, Y, that is provided with a ybevelled foot, X, and is designed to keep the ends of the straw from rising after passing the leerling-rollers.

'The guide-board K, also att-ached to the board H, serves to direct the straw so that it may readily enter between the rollers.

lVheu theroller d is elevated by the straw passing beneath it, the guide-board K and compressing-board Y, (being connected through the posts l l with journals of said roller,) are automatically elevated and adjusted to the properheight.

Claims.

l. The'sliding head-block F and inclined groove I, constructed as described, and used in combination with the knife G and swinging arm P, in 4the manner and for the purposes specified.

2. The pivoted bar D, pawls n n, adjusting-hook L, and head-block F, when constructed and operated in combination, substantially as described.

3. lhc combination of the feed-rollersl with the springs a, the guide-board K, and compressing-board Y, when constructed and arranged to operate as described.

THOMAS N. YOUNG. Witnesses:

J Emst. RAILsBAoK, E. W. YARRINGTON.

By means of Y 

